Had the pleasure of a round of golf at Essex County,MA, in the US (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/essex1.html
) at the weekend. Essex will play host to the Curtis Cup in 2010. Beautiful, Donald Ross designed course, with an inland links feel. Great sense of history and respect for the game of golf. My host told me the greens were not at their fastest – but you certainly did not want to be above the the pin and putting for a half.